This chapter is dedicated to my cousin Becky who has just joined the army wife community, her husband, Ryan, just enlisted in the army. Here's to you two!


My pencil was continuously tapping the giant math text book as I sighed. I dreaded my math class. I was taking college level courses and they were exceedingly boring. I had finished the quiz and now I had over twenty minutes left of the period. I was so bored.

It had been almost a month since Edward's visit. He had been very busy since he got back and I worried so much about him. He just got back from a mission a few days ago and we had a phone date tonight. It was weird, but I was still getting used to not having him around. I missed him more and more everyday, especially with all of the holidays fast approaching.

It was insane to think that in less than two weeks it would be one year since I wrote my first letter. When I looked back it seemed like there's no way 12 months have flown by. But somehow, they had. And boy had I changed big time.

I had never really liked going out to parties and stuff, but now, I would rather sit at home and plan care packages for Edward and his squad than go to the movies with the soccer team.

At times I felt almost arrogant because I did feel like high school was time to end. I felt like everyone was far too self centered and worried only about what they looked like and when their graduation parities were going to be. It made me almost jealous, because instead of thinking about stuff like that, I was plagued with nightmares about Edward inIraq. I worried about him constantly.

I almost punched a girl last week. She was telling Rose and me about her boyfriend touring colleges. "He's been gone a whole week!"

Try having your boyfriend half away across the world for fucking months, bitch.

But other than that, my life was moving on normally. I was continuing to get letters from colleges in the mail and it was fun. I had been getting accepted into some really great schools. I was getting more and more excited for my life after high school. I just wanted to get a chance to find out what I should be doing with my life.

Edward and I kept up a constant stream of letters, phone calls and emails. We didn't really communicate important stuff in letters anymore. I talked about colleges and life with him over the phone when he could but mostly over email. We got letters from each other that were just filled with really sweet things to make each other smile.

I only remained angry at Edward about the gun thing for a few weeks. I had to accept that my life wasn't in immediate danger as of now. Well. . .I didn't really have to accept it, but I didn't want to create a rift between him and me. I hadn't told anyone about it because in all honesty, I was trying to forget about it. Though I did want to talk to Edward about the man he may or may not have killed. I knew Edward and that was not something he would be taking lightly. But I got the sense it wasn't safe to talk about it in any way other than in person. I don't know why, it probably wasn't rational, but I just wanted to pretend it was a dream. So for the time being I dropped it and distracted myself.

And then there was Elliot. I rolled my eyes. I was getting ready to punch him too. The guy had moved most of his schedule to fit with mine per Edward's request. Math and a few electives were the only classes I didn't have with him. I doubted that he really had a gun because that would be incredibly illegal, but I didn't exactly feel unsafe with him nearby. I hated it because I felt like I had a babysitter but I had grown to forgetting the reason I saw so much of him.

And at home, Edward had gotten to Carlisle too. The day Edward left, Carlisle installed one of the most expensive security systems available. So I was pretty freaking protected.

The girl sitting next to me, cramming to finish her quiz, glared not so subtly at my moving pencil. I silently sighed and put the pencil down. Instead my foot started bouncing up and down. I propped my elbow up and cupped him chin in my hand, staring at the clock.

The intercom dinged to life and the secretary's voice filled the classrooms. "Pardon the interruption; Isabella Swan to the office. Isabella Swan."

Sweet!

I was out of that classroom before the teacher could even say Trigonometry. I slug my back pack over my shoulder as I walked quickly down the halls, mentally dancing for joy. I was curious as to why I was getting called down to the office though.

I walked into the warm office, softly shutting the door behind me. The secretary, a small blonde woman at about 50, was peering over her glasses at me. I knew her but she had no idea who I was. "Isabella?" she asked. I nodded. "You have a phone call," she informed me. She held out a corded phone to me and I reached out to take it, wondering who the hell it was.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Bella," Edward exhaled. I perked up immediately. The secretary glanced at me, a knowing look on her face. She had heard Edward's telephone voice too. I gave her a "tell me about it" look before turning my back to her.

"Edward why are you calling me?" I asked uncertainly. Dread coursed through me, "Are you hurt? What happened?"

"No baby, I'm fine, just a few cuts and bruises," he assured me. My brow furrowed as I took in his voice. He sounded upset but I could tell he was serious and trying not to convey it to me.

"From what?" I demanded. I glanced apologetically back at the secretary for my loudness. She waved her hand and turned to walk to one of the back offices.

"Promise me you'll stay calm."

Like hell. "I promise."

Edward sighed, "Our squad was patrolling the grounds on foot. There was no imminent danger so Alice was with us to, I had partnered up with her. We had heard a cry from inside a building. The structure was degrading and it looked abandoned. Before I could stop her, Alice took off running to get in the building. Before I could make a move to follow her, there was a loud explosion. I got to the ground and immediately called my squad back. When I saw there was no one coming out of the building and that back up was coming, I ran into what was left of the building."

My mouth fell open. I stared unseeing at a fake plant, my eyes wide as Edward recounted the events. My head started to shake back and forth as my body filled with fear.

"Alice is okay. She's pretty banged up though. When she stepped on the first floor boards they set off a grenade, thank God it was smaller one. She did get thrown back from the force though. Now she's with the medics, from what they've told me she completed shattered her left tibia. She'll be in a cast for up to three months. She also broke her right radius."

I exhaled in relief. "Oh my God," was all I could say. Then I frowned, "how's Jasper holding up?" I felt nothing but sympathy for that man. But I couldn't help but be selfish and glad that Edward was okay.

Edward sighed tiredly. "He's a fucking wreck. Their relationship is highly secret so he can't blow his cover. He's been relying on me for information and waiting until it would be an appropriate time for him to visit her without causing suspicion."

I couldn't imagine Alice laying in a hospital bed with army medics surrounding her small broken body. I could completely imagine her risking her life for a child though. I couldn't identify with Jasper as of now, and I hoped to God I would never have to.

"There's more," I accused. Edward could have waited for our phone date to fill me in on this. He must have really wanted to get a hold of me to be patched through to Carlisle or Esme and then the school.

"Yeah," Edward agreed grimly, "there's more."

I waited, preparing myself for whatever else he was going to throw at me. I would have rather been still in Trig then having this conversation.

"Alice has been discharged," Edward confided, and I could tell he was upset. My mouth fell open further. "Her enlistment would have been up in a few months, but now she has an honorable discharge. She's no longer in my squad."

Fuck. I considered this. I wanted to groan. Edward loved Alice like a sister, they all did. . .well expect Jasper, he loved her a hell of a lot more. None of them wanted her to leave. And Edward was so fond of her. She was his favorite member of the squad and it was really saying a lot that Edward trusted her. He was like me, we both chose our friends carefully.

"Do they normally grant discharges like that?" I inquired curiously.

"Sometimes, rarely I guess," Edward admitted. He seemed to be thinking heavily upon this as well. It didn't really make sense to me.

"Oh Edward," I sighed sadly. This was one of those moments where I wanted nothing more than to hug him.

"Why the hell am I a sergeant?" he asked rhetorically. I frowned. I should have known instantly that Edward was going to blame himself for the accident. I closed my eyes sadly, wishing for the perfect thing to say.

But I was only 18. I wasn't a character in a book or a perfectly scripted actress. I said whatever I thought was going to make him feel better. "Because you care. This wasn't your fault, she would have gone to the cry no matter who she was with. There is no way in hell you could have stopped it; even the president of the United States couldn't have stopped her. You know that. This has nothing to do with you or how amazing you are at your job," I chided him fiercely.

Edward remained silent. I wished more than anything that I could be with him. But I waited until he was ready to say anything. I would wait all through my science class if I had to.

"Alice, she's leaving the camp in a couple days. As soon as she clear to travel." I chose to ignore the fact that he was probably going to keep blaming himself. That was a whole other bridge to cross. Evidently Alice was more important right now. I hoped he knew I wasn't going to let him drop this forever.

"Where's she going to go? Her parents are gone, she doesn't have any family?" Even though I was asking the question my mind was already miles away. I had plans immediately forming.

"Jasper wants her to go his dad's house. He's been trying to get a hold of him for the time being."

I shook my head. "That won't work. Unless Alice plans to never shower or if she's just really comfortable with her body and Jasper's dad."

"What do you mean?" Oh men. I love how cute you are.

"She's going to need to shower Edward. And if she's got a cast all the way up her leg I think she could use a little help. You know that we have more than enough room at our house and Esme and Carlisle love her to pieces. For the time being I think she should come and live with us. Plus, Esme could use some help around the office, I know Alice would hate to be doing nothing. And Carlisle's a doctor! He'd be able to keep an eye on her." I was getting excited. I knew I was getting ahead of myself but I lovedAliceand I wanted to help.

"I don't know. I'll ask her once she's feeling up to it. I think the last thing she wants right now is to think about leaving Jasper. It will only make her more stressed and slow down her recovery," Edward decided hesitantly. I shook my head sadly. Oh Edward, none of you want to think about her leaving.

"You better go keep an eye on her. Call me later if you can," I requested softly.

"I'm sorry, snicker doddle, I can't. They are shutting down communications for the next 48 hours to keep from news leaking out. The only reason I was even able to call you is because I convinced the captain you are Alice's only family, and even then we are seriously breaking protocol. His ass could be on the line and I definitely owe him one." Edward had told me that they did that awhile back. It made perfect sense. But it was very saddening that Alice didn't have any family to alert.

"Alright. For what it's worth I love you. And I think you're pretty great," I added.

"Love you too, bye." And then I was listening to the dial tone. My head fell back, mentally wiped from that conversation. That's my cross bearing Edward.

A few days later I was driving to the airport. I had to beat Alice's flight. Jasper had escorted her to the closest airport in Iraq since Edward was "occupied" and helped her settle into the plane. Her mobility was almost non existent. So, I had to get there and help her get out of the plane and into the car. I had no idea what I was expecting from her. She had a lot of things to be sad about though.

It was a Friday and I took off the entire day of school. Rose had agreed to stick it through and take notes in the classes I missed, and boy did I owe her for it.

I beat Alice's flight by 10 minutes and once it landed, I was waiting. I explained the situation to the very nice boarding attendant and she allowed me to go on the plane and help Alice off. She looked like a wreck when I got to her.

The whole way from the plane, through the airport and to the truck she hardly said anything other than a greeting. The right side of her face was bruised. It was now an ugly shade of purple with yellow starting to surround it. It looked like she hadn't slept for days and she just looked so sad.

"I'm sorry Alice," I offered once we were in the truck, driving down the high way. I didn't know what else to say. I sucked at this.

"It's not your fault. You didn't set a grenade," she disagreed emotionlessly. I frowned and stole a glance at her. She wasn't looking at me, but instead staring out the window at the passing landscape. It was exactly what Edward had done the first time he arrived.

"I know it doesn't help, but I know partially what you're going through," I tried. I would stop talking in a moment because it was apparent that she was in a talkative mood and I could respect that. But I needed her to know that I had been separated with Edward twice now and it got more manageable.

Alice almost cracked a smile. "You're the only person who could say that to me without pissing me off."

I almost had a smile. I decided to push my luck. I know I should have left her alone, but I kind of wished someone would have talked to me and been able to understand what I was dealing with when Edward left. "Have you ever been away from him?"

Alice shook her head and sighed. Her head fell against the head rest as she continued to stare out the windshield. "Not since we first met. I mean he's been away on missions and I've had a few other assignments too. But we were always on the same continent."

I could have been comforting and asked her to talk about it more. I could have said so many things that probably would have made her feel even remotely better. But I just had to say the one thing I wished someone would have said to me the first time Edward left. "It sucks doesn't it?"

"Oh yeah," she agreed instantly. I looked over at her and she glanced at me. We were in the same boat now. And with that knowledge, I think we both drew strength from each other.

Carlisle and Esme had both arranged their schedules so they could be home when Alice arrived. I was already planning a shopping trip after taking a look at her one suitcase. But that was just an idle thought as Carlisle rushed to help Alice out of the truck while I grabbed her suitcase.

Carlisle leaned down so that he had his arm wrapped securely around her waist on her left, cast side and she swung her arm around his shoulder. They slowly made their way through the garage while I followed with the suitcase. Out of all the soldiers to end up at our house, it was evident that Carlisle was glad with the one who did.

Esme pulled Alice into a tight hug as soon as she walked through the door. I set her bag down and grabbed her a bottle of water out of the fridge. She took it gratefully after Esme released her and helped her to the stools.

Alice wasted no time before profusely expressing her gratitude. "Thank you so much Esme and Carlisle. You really didn't have to do this. . ."

"Oh yes we did,"Carlisle disagreed, the way he said it sounded like he was leading on to something. I looked at Esme, expectantly.

"Of course we did!" Esme threw in. "I went from having one child to six. Well, okay, Rose was always like a second daughter, but that point is moot. Ever since this summer I have thought of you all as my kid's and I've been worrying about you four like crazy."

Alice looked touched. But Esme wasn't finished yet. "I bet you didn't know that I've been writing letters to Jasper either. I figure if the three of you had Bella and Rose, then he needed someone. You've gotten quite the young man, Alice. Forth of July was a fantastic holiday, it felt like the one's I grew up with, with all of my cousins and aunts and uncles. I always wanted a big family and now I have it. And I don't want it any other way."

By the time Esme finished her slightly erratic rant, all of us females were getting misty eyed. I felt like this was one of those group hug moments. I never really had thought of this is in Esme's perspective. But as I look back now, of course she would take in everyone as her own. I should have seen it coming before they even arrived. She was such a caring person and she loved so deeply and endlessly.

Esme hugged Alice and me to her once again as if she had raised us our whole life before releasing us and leaving us very emotional as Esme walked out of the room. I knew what she was thinking without her having to tell; Alice just found herself a new set of parents. And I think that meant more to her than a lot of other things in life. I grinned softly before we slowly made our way up the stairs to the bedrooms.

I didn't want her to have Edward's room and really, I don't think she wanted his bed. She knew what things we had done in there. So instead I had given her the blue and brown bedroom at the other end of the hall.

Alice plopped down on the bed exhausted. I crossed the room and fell on my back next to her.

"So,"Alice said in a much more content voice than she had had an hour ago, "I guess I'm moving up in the military."

I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. I sure as hell hoped that she didn't have amnesia. That would be a little overwhelming. I didn't want to have to remind her she had just been discharged.

Alice giggled at my confusion. "Haven't you heard the saying, the most important job in the military is the girlfriend?" I laughed with her.

I agreed, "It's definitely the hardest."


So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Better Days, Goo Goo Dolls


-Golf is officially done! (completely officially) Unfortunately our team didn't kick as much ass as Rose and Bella's did, but it was a good season, and I'm back!
-A lot of you learned last chapter that I'm still in high school. I don't have any type of college education yet, so don't expect me to write as if I've spent four years learning how! I don't even know what I want to major in! haha
-More of why Alice is back and creepy guys next chapter(:

-And again; if you're going to flame, please have the balls to log in and not do it anonymously. Thanks(: